News

Environment Minister announces new date for the reformed LGPS (NI)

28 January 2014

Environment Minister, Mark H Durkan, has today announced that the reformed Local Government Pension Scheme will be introduced on 1 April 2015.

Mark Durkan said: “I am pleased to inform the members and employers of the Local Government Pension Scheme that last night the Assembly agreed an amendment to the Public Service Pension Bill which changes the implementation date for the reformed Local Government Pension Scheme from 1 April 2014 to 1 April 2015.

“I know the original implementation date of April 2014, just a few months away, was a cause of real concern among employers and workers, including bus drivers, classroom assistants and council officers. They were understandably worried that this date left an orderly and smooth transition to the reformed pension system practically impossible.

“I welcome this decision by the Assembly as it will allow the 205 employers, and the pension administrator, the Northern Ireland Local Government Officers’ Superannuation Committee (NILGOSC), time to make sure that all of the necessary new arrangements are in place, that its over 44,000 members are aware of the changes and exactly how this will affect them.

“My Department will make the regulations which set out the detail of the reformed scheme as soon as possible to give employers and NILGOSC sufficient time for an orderly transition to the new arrangements.”